Moment in Time

Hunt

Castle grabbed Alexis' hand and began to run down the back corridor. The thug squeezed off a single shot before Castle pushed him out of the way by sheer force of will. Father and daughter seemed to run forever, through the alleys to the steps of the Embassy where a marine was waiting to lead them in. Castle's legs were turning to lead as he climbed, but he kept up the pace until the doors were firmly locked behind them.

Alexis threw her arms around her father's neck, clinging to the comfort that had always been there for her. Feeling something warm and wet, she stepped back. "Dad," she cried in horror, "you're bleeding! You've been shot!"

Beckett sat at her desk at the 12th wearily rubbing her eyes. The sixth cup of coffee hadn't helped. Castle had called once to let her know he was all right after her last call to him had been cut off with the sound of a shot. He said he knew where Alexis was and he was going to rescue her. Scenarios swam behind her eyelids, none of them good. She was startled by the ringing of her cell. The call was from Paris. "Castle?" she asked.

"Detective Beckett, it's Alexis. Dad I and are in the American Embassy in Paris. I'm okay, but we won't be coming back yet."

A bad feeling stirred in the pit of Beckett's stomach. "Why?"

"Detective Beckett, Dad's been shot. The doctor here thinks he'll be all right, but they can't move him yet. Can you tell Gram? She shouldn't hear it over the phone."

"Alexis, why isn't your father in a hospital?"

"It's not safe. I can't explain. I'm not allowed to."

"Alexis," Beckett insisted, "I'll tell Martha, but then I'm coming to Paris."

Beckett fervently wished the Concorde was still flying so that she could be in Paris in a few hours. As she was trying to book the first flight she could, she got a call from a blocked number. "Detective Beckett," came a voice on the other end of the phone that reminded her ever so slightly of Castle's, there is a private flight that will take you to Paris."

"Who is this?" Beckett asked.

"A friend," the voice answered. "Let's just say I owe Castle a few favors."

Beckett was skeptical, but followed the instructions to reach an airfield she had never heard of. She was quickly ushered aboard the supersonic jet and arrived in Paris a few hours later. She was escorted without question through the doors of the embassy to the room where Castle lay. Alexis was sitting by the bed and ran to embrace Beckett as she came in.

"How's he doing?" Beckett asked.

"He's in and out," Alexis replied. "I know he'll be glad to see you."

Castle looked almost as pale as the sheets. His chest was bare, but for the stark whiteness of the bandages, and his hair, slightly damp, fell over his forehead. Beckett touched his cheek. "Castle," she called softly.

Castle's lashes fluttered slightly. "Rick," Beckett called again, smoothing back his hair.

Castle's eyes opened slowly. "Kate?" he asked, not quite believing she was there.

Beckett grasped Castle's hand between both of hers and brought it to her cheek. "You idiot," she said, smiling gently. "Why did you come here without me? No wonder you got yourself shot. What did you do, anyway?"

"Sophia was right," Castle murmured before drifting off again.

"Alexis," does this have something to do with the CIA?" Beckett asked.

"Detective Beckett, I don't know what I'm allowed to say," Alexis answered. "Maybe Dad can tell you more when he wakes up again. I'll leave you two alone for awhile."

Exhausted, Beckett drowsed in a chair by Castle's bed. "Kate," he called softly.

Beckett's eyes sprung open. "Castle are you okay?"

"Better," he told her. "I wasn't sure if I dreamed you were here."

"Castle," Beckett asked, "what did you mean when you said Sophia was right?"

"Beckett, remember when Sophia said my father would be proud?"

"Yeah, Castle, but she told a lot of lies."

"That wasn't one of them. My father is a spy, although he calls himself an intelligence asset. He greased the wheels to get me CIA access. He's known about me for most of my life. He's known about Alexis too. Alexis was kidnapped to draw him out so that some Russian could kill him. He orchestrated Alexis' rescue, but no one can know that we did it together. There's some sort of cover story that was cooked up giving credit to Interpol and the French police."

"Castle, that's amazing, but it explains a lot. I think he might have helped me get here. Of course he also got you shot."

"You know Beckett, I was concentrating so hard on getting Alexis out, I didn't even feel it when it happened."

"I bet you do now."

"Castle smiled wryly. "Yeah, but I guess if anyone knows what that's like, it's you. Thanks for coming."

"Always," Beckett replied, "but Castle, promise you won't ever do anything like this again without me."

Castle reached up and brought her lips to his. "I promise."

Life in the American Embassy in Paris could have been worse. There was a steady supply of fresh baguettes and pastry. The dining room had a French chef, who put together a care package for Beckett to take on the transport back to the U.S.. Beckett and the Castle family were accorded considerable respect, apparently through the efforts of Castle's father. The man himself, however, never showed his face. Castle had not really expected him to.

After the embassy doctor had cleared Castle to travel, the return home was as swift as Beckett's trip to Paris had been. Castle approached his loft holding Alexis' hand on one side and with and an arm around Beckett on the other. Alerted by the doorman, Martha threw open the door. "Darlings, welcome home! You must be starving! I made breakfast."

At that last remark, Castle was grateful for the French delights they had enjoyed on the plane. Martha swept them inside, hugging each in turn. As Beckett and the Castles were doing the best they could with Martha's breakfast offerings, Castle spied a package lying on the counter. "What's that?" he asked.

"It came for you this morning," Martha answered. "Here, I'll get it for you."

Castle slid loose the copy of Casino Royale. "Mother, there's something I'd like to tell you."

A/N Her is your daily reminder about Charity Water and Nerd HQ. Nerd HQ does have a new URL. Tweet me CheerfulChemist for info. I don't usually tell you ahead, but I am bound and determined to fix TSATQ. With luck, that should post tomorrow,